Man with a Mission

Another great read in the Morgan's Mercenaries series. It's set in the exotic location of Peru where the indomitable Maya Stevenson runs an all women covert ops squad against the local drug traffickers. Hunky Jake Travers goes there to rescue his kidnapped kid sister - and guess what? Falls in love with one of Maya's valkyrie chopper pilots. I loved the location and the smattering of local customs and color from around the Macchu Picchu area. Jake is torn between his feelings of chivalry for his guide and commanding officer Lieutenant Ana Lucia Cortina and his need to rescue his sister from dangerous drug runners. A lot of the interest in this book revolves around the tension between the sex role stereotypes that Jake is burdened with and the realities that he has to face in the field. McKenna shows how women can retain their femininity and still be top combat soldiers. At the same time, Jake struggles with his own feelings and how to express them. It would be nice to think that there were really North American men out there as sensitive to other cultures and feminist issues as this tough ranger. I'm looking forward to the forthcoming novel about Maya.

Lindsey McKenna's A MAN WITH A MISSION is one fast and exciting novel. It provides the reader with a rich description of the mysterious land of Peru. Captain Jake Travers has learned his sister has been captured by notorious drug dealers who are holding her hostage in the dark jungles of Peru. He seeks the aid of a special operations force and is shocked to discover he will be required to work with a female Apache helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Ana Cortina. He is unprepared in his first meeting with Ana, not only is she highly trained, she is also beautiful. Lieutenant Ana Cortina, born and raised in Peru, joined the army to help rid her country of the drug activities which plagued her country. She is determined to help return it to the once safe environment she remembers as a child. Accepting a special operations mission to work with Captain Jake Travers, she finds herself forced to prove her skills. Unexpectedly she also finds herself wanting to give her heart to Jake. She realizes that pursuing this love is fruitless because once Jake finds his sister he will return to North America, or will he? Ana and Jake are both portrayed as strong characters. Being on an equal level it is hard for either of them to admit their true feelings. Both share a common tragic experience of losing the loves of their life. Their loss and common careers enhance the building foundation of their relationship. This is the first Heart of Mercenaries series I have read. I was very impressed and look forward to reviewing the other stories in the series.

Part of the Maverick Hearts miniseries by Linday McKenna, MAN WITH A MISSION is a heart pounding, heart-stopping novel of danger and love.They have a mission, a life to find and save. Captain Jake Travers' sister is missing. She traveled to the jungles of Peru to a small village to help them sink wells. Sixty percent of their children were dying before the age of ten from drinking bad water. Talia Travers dreams of saving the children, little realizing the risk to herself. Kidnapped by a drug lord, Tal becomes the pawn of dangerous game that Jake intends to end.Against his better judgement, Jake accepts the aid of Lieutenant Ana Cortina, a woman that is part of the Black Jaguar squadron that fights the influx of Columbia drugs. His traditional beliefs don't allow for a woman to lead this kind of deadly mission, and he has serious misgivings. But Jake needs a guide that knows the path, the people, and the languages that will lead to saving his sister.Jake makes Ana feel safe in a world gone mad. She makes Jake long for things he doesn't dare dream of. As they walk the path through the Rainbow Valley, Jake finds himself filled with both terror and joy. Terror for the safety of his beloved sister. Joy to be with this extraordinary woman. Despite their cultural differences, they have much in common, placing family, parents, land and heritage ahead all other things.Although she calls herself a warrior, Jake comes to understand she's also a sensual woman, with powerful religious beliefs and a profound connection to the land. As his heart becomes further involved, he also hopes she might become a wife and mother. Somehow he must learn to reconcile the warrior with the woman. And somehow, when the mission ends, they must find a way to be together. But the farmlands of Iowa are a long way from the Peruvian jungle.With a powerful narrative voice and a marvelous imaginative flair, McKenna presents the clash of culture and ideals in this memorable tale. Very highly recommended.

Another "out of the park home run" from romantic adventure novelist Lindsay McKenna! I really enjoyed this book. Ana and Jake were a fantastic romanctic couple, intense, believable, and meant for each other. The action in the novel is top-notch, as we've come to expect from Ms. McKenna, one of the few romantic adventure authors who can write authentically about "edge of your seat" expeditions and make you feel as if you're there in the middle of the action. But as always, the adventure is balanced by the well-done, tender, emotional story of two souls in search of love. I look forward to the next in the line of Morgan's Mercenarys novels...it won't come too soon for me.

One day after resigning his commission as an officer with the Army Rangers, Jake Travers performs the impossible and breaches Morgan's impregnable headquarters in Montana. Jake asks Morgan for help to rescue his sister, Talia, a hydrologist working with the Que'ro Indians in Peru. Her employer, the legitimate non-profit Wiraquocha Foundation, informed Jake that his sister is missing and probably kidnapped. Since Morgan has no one available to accompany Jake, he calls an American soldier working in Peru, trading helicopters for a guide who knows the Rainbow Valley where Tal was last seen.Jake has problems with his guide being a woman, even though Morgan vouches for Lieutenant Ana Cortina. However, she is his only hope of rescuing Tal. In Peru, Jake quickly becomes impressed with Ana's abilities to survive the dangers that threaten them. As he reassesses his thoughts on the capabilities of women, Jake and Ana fall in love, but they still have a deadly mission to survive.The latest Lindsay McKenna's "Morgan's Mercenaries" novel is an interesting work of romantic suspense with a twist as neither the hero nor the heroine work for the Perseus group. The story line is fast-paced and very descriptive, especially the remote areas of Peru. Jake is a great character because his macho beliefs make Ana the wrong person for him. Ana is a brave individual who proves women can serve in combat. MAN WITH A MISSION is a strong entry in one of the better ongoing romantic suspense series of the past few years.